AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Receive a Staff update on the New City Hall/Hopkins City Center Project and provide direction to Staff.
Body
Meeting date: April 15, 2025
Department: City Manager’s Office
Amount & Source of Funding
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Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: November 6, 2024: City Council appoints members to the Hopkins City Center/New City Hall Advisory Committee; City Council awards a contract to Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. to provide public-private partnership services and transaction advice for the Hopkins City Center/New City Hall Project.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Quality of Life & Sense of Place
Public Safety, Core Services & Fiscal Excellence
Environmental Protection
Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
☐ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
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☐ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
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☐ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
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Background Information:
The Hopkins City Center/New City Hall Project has a number of goals as it seeks to revitalize the Hopkins Street corridor between IH35 and North CM Allen Parkway:
• Build a new City Hall.
• Leverage the existing City facilities and parkland to create a cohesive, well-designed, connected space that the community can enjoy.
• Safe, connected multi-modal transportation within the area.
• Attractive public spaces and roadways.
• Environmental protection of the nearby river.
• Spark new development in the area that meets market and community needs.
A contract was awarded to Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS) in November 2024 to provide public-private partnership services and transaction advice to the city for developing a plan to accomplish these goals. In addition to EPS, the consultant team also includes Freese & Nichols and McCann Adams Studio. A kickoff was held in December, information about the site was shared, and concepts were developed by the consultant team.
Also in November 2024, City Council appointed the 23-member Hopkins City Center/New City Hall Advisory Committee. This Committee has met twice, February 20 and March 20 of this year, to learn more about the project and review concepts developed by the consultant team. At the March meeting, the Committee developed a recommendation regarding the location of a new City Hall facility.
In addition to providing a project update, we are seeking City Council direction regarding the location of City Hall as we proceed into Phase 2 of the project. That phase will include planning for the overall corridor including potential improvements to Hopkins, exploring possible enhancements to other city sites, determining public engagement opportunities, and developing a financing strategy and delivery method.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
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Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
Provide direction to staff regarding preferred location for a new City Hall.